Areas Needing Improvement

Pad level/bodily posture

An integral part of succeeding at the defensive line position is maintaining low pad level upon contact, and attacking blockers with the right posture. The best defensive linemen all share a similar quality, and that is attacking blockers with a low center of gravity and having exceptional leverage. The importance of this quality spans all nuances of playing the position. For example, oftentimes on the defensive line you are asked to combat double teams. If you do not attack the outside shoulder of the lead player on a double team with low pads and sunk hips, the post player will knock you back off your spot and you will lose gap integrity. Even against a single block, the higher your pad level the more surface area an offensive lineman can grasp. The higher the hat, the higher the chest which is the target for an offensive lineman’s latch. That also applies to pass rush, as if they have access to your chest, they can latch and sink their weight to anchor successfully.

Onwuzurike shows that he can excel here at times, but there is visible inconsistency in this area and it is important to fix that going forward in order to maximize his potential.

In this play, Onwuzurike is lined up in a 2 technique, head up on the guard. Arizona executes a QB run, though it does look like a broken play. The tackle and guard combo block the 2, and you can see post snap that his pad level and hat rise before he even makes initial contact. Because of his lackluster pad level and high bodily posture, the combo block drives him out of his spot completely. He was not able to anchor down because his pad level was high enough to where he could not drop his weight and anchor against it. The offensive play was broken, so his error did not prove costly. However, gap integrity and good leverage proves critical in the success of a defensive line. This is one example of high pad level, and you can see examples of this in several places throughout his tape. 

Here is an example of high pads in an attempt to rush the passer. On this rep, watch how at first contact he is nearly in a completely upright position. The center has a clear, accessible chest to strike and gain control. The center wins inside hand placement, and because of that, Onwuzurike gets stonewalled on his rush path. The guard looks for work and chips him, knocking him off balance. If he rushed with bend and a little bit more urgency he could have gained control early and condensed pocket structure. Instead, his high pad level made mitigating disruption relatively easy. Pad level applies to all aspects of playing this position!

Expanding his rush arsenal

A clip will not be attached to this explanation, as this explanation relies more upon expansion of a skill rather than analyzing flaws. The NFL has seen blue chip quarterbacks emerge from the college ranks for years, and arguably the incoming crop of quarterbacks arriving in the league become more and more talented. Due to that, front offices are putting interior pass rushers who can condense the pocket atop their offseason wish lists every year. They are very hard to find, yet very beneficial to have.

As an interior rusher, you have little space to maneuver and gain advantages without impediment from other bodies. Therefore, you have to have several moves in your rush arsenal in order to beat your blockers with urgency and quickness. Onwuzurike utilizes the bull rush and the arm over often successfully. He has the strength when his technique lines up to drive back his matchup and he is twitchy enough to execute the arm over in a manner that is effective.

However, it is imperative that he expands that arsenal in order to create unpredictability in his rush plans. Onwuzurike adding different ways to beat blockers into his arsenal, will maximize his gifted physical ability and wreak interior havoc against evolving passing offenses. Interior lineman who can create havoc in the pocket remain an evolving prototype for today’s NFL, and if he evolves his rush arsenal he can fit that prototype with flying colors. 

Player Comparison

Jarran Reed

Outlook

Onwuzurike is talented interior defensive lineman, with an intriguing physical skill set. He is a refined run defender with violent hands, a jarring lockout and the quick twitch needed to explode through gaps. Onwuzurike brings his hips with his hands, showcasing elite power on contact that resets the line of scrimmage and stuns his opponent. His ankle flexion and lateral agility remain a plus trait of his, as it can be advantageous in mitigating the emergence of the zone running game. His pad level remains inconsistent, however he shows an ability to sink and play low.

The next step for him, is doing it on every rep against all different kinds of blocks. As a pass rusher, he does have twitch off the ball and in his overall movements. His athleticism is visible, and his lower body explosiveness bodes well in becoming a great interior rusher. He has a few reliable pass rush moves, however, to maximize his potential his arsenal needs expansion. He can be utilized in a variety of schemes and his best maximization would be in an even front where he can maintain one gap to a high level.

Overall, Onwuzurike has a skillset that will make him a successful starter in this league for a long time. He plays with great effort and juice, while executing his assignments with violent intentions. It would be smart for NFL teams to look for his services early in Round 2, as I am confident they will enjoy their return on investment.